Checking in to say hi and let you know we are well and safe! We’ve had an eventful week with a roller coaster of emotions with the Hurricane. We are thankful that our area in Tampa Bay is ok with minimal damage but heartbroken about the destruction and damage that has occurred in other areas of Florida.
We experienced a lot of wind and rain however we did not have to evacuate based on our area and zone. My in-laws evacuated as they are very close to the water so they packed up essentials and spent a few days with us until it was safe for them to return to their home.
We lost power as expected for several days but there were so many power trucks throughout Florida to help we were out of power for only 3 days.
Devastated to see the damage from Hurricane Ian in other parts of Florida. We were in Fort Myers a few months ago and it is heart breaking to see the entire area has been destroyed. They are a little over 2 hours south from where we are. We are making donations to the Florida Disaster Fund. Seeing the damage it will most likely take them years to rebuild.
Ollie and Kitty are both doing well. Ollie is now 8 months old and we think he is nearly full grown at 17.4 pounds! They both bring us so much happiness.
Thank you for all of you who messaged me to check in. Feeling blessed and lucky.
Holiday gift sets have already started to pop up and I’m excited to share a first look at this year’s SpaceNK Advent Calendar! This is a stunning gift box with special beauty treats for the 25 days of surprises. It retails for $280 with a total value of over $1,000 and some of the boxes have more than one beauty item! (There’s a total of 31 beauty treats.)
The 2022 Space NK Advent Calendar is limited-edition and sells out every year. They recommend purchasing sooner than later so you don’t miss out. I love that they’ve included a mix of everything in beauty from skin care, makeup, hair care and scented products.
Each box has a number corresponding to the day in December you can open a surprise and I love that they added a little hint as well on each box. Makes it fun!
There are tons of items in the box I have not tried yet – so even the most experienced beauty and skincare junkie will still most likely find things in this box that are new to them.
I love the deluxe miniature sizes of the skincare items. They give you enough product to really sample it! There are also a number of full-sized items like a Rose Inc. cream blush, Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick, Laura Mercier eyeshadow stick, Necessaire Hand cream and more.
The Ordinary: Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% (30ml – Full size)
Sisley-Paris: Black Rose Cream Mask (10ml)
Sisley-Paris: Black Rose Skin Infusion Cream (10ml)
Laura Mercier: Caviar Stick Eye Colour Matte in Au Naturel (2g – Full size)
Sol De Janeiro: Brazilian Bum Bum Cream (75ml)
Sunday Riley: C.E.O. Vitamin C Rich Hydration Cream (15ml)
Dr Dennis Gross: Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel (2.2ml x 3)
Malin + Goetz: Lip Moisturizer (10ml – Full size)
Medik8: Crystal Retinol 3 (30ml – Full size)
Rose Inc: Blush Divine Radiant Lip & Cheek in Heliotrope (4.5g – Full size)
Jo Loves: Snowflake Votive (70g)
Augustinus Bader: The Face Oil (10ml)
Tatcha: The Dewy Skin Cream (10ml)
I think this is a great gift idea that will suit a wide range of tastes and ages. I’m debating whether to keep this for myself or gift it away.
If you’re getting an early start on your holiday shopping I highly recommend checking this one out. SpaceNK is offering a great boxed set for the value!
I’ve been playing with the new Patrick Ta Major Skin Creme Foundation and Finishing Powder Duo ($52) along with his new Dual-Ended Complexion Brush ($45) and his new foundation has made it to my favorites list! It is definitely in my Top 5 of all time for makeup bases. If you haven’t checked it out, I highly recommend venturing to your nearest Sephora to see it in person if you can.
Patrick Ta Major Skin Creme Foundation and Finishing Powder Duo
The new Patrick Ta Major Skin Creme Foundation is a skin-like base that looks like skin but better. It has a buildable finish that evens out the skin tone, covers imperfections and spots in a natural way, has good lasting power and still manages to let the skin breathe.
The compact also comes with a Finishing Powder which is a sheer tinted pressed powder. I was able to attend a zoom master class with Patrick Ta and he likes to use this only on the T-zone. It has minimal pigment in it to set the cream product and look natural. I am a full face powder kind of person because I like everything to be set evenly. It’s sheer but blurs the skin and I love that it doesn’t darken or oxidize on the cream.
I tried a few different shades and the colors I tested are sheer enough that I can make them all work on my skin. I used the shade finder tool at Sephora and my match was Light Medium 2 which turned out to be a spot on match.
I have Light Medium 1, Light Medium 2 and Light Medium 3 for the creme foundation swatched. Since the powder is really sheer it doesn’t really show up well in a swatch but each one has a slightly different undertone to match the cream.
On me you can see Light Medium 1 is more olive, Light Medium 2 is more golden and Light Medium 3 is more cool/rose toned.
Compared to other bases I really can’t think of anything quite like it. I’ve used and loved the MAC Studio Tech Cream-To-Powder Foundation but it’s more full coverage and has a matte finish. It has a natural finish like the Westman Atelier Vital Skin Foundation Stick, but the Patrick Ta feels a little more creamy, a little lighter weight and slightly more balmy. To me the new Patrick Ta Creme Foundation is almost like what you would get if you put the Chanel Les Beiges Water-Fresh Complexion Tint in a solid cream compact form.
Here’s a BEFORE (bare skin) and AFTER with (creme + powder)
Side by side with just the Creme applied vs bare skin
Patrick Ta also launched a new Dual-Ended Complexion Brush designed just for the the duo compact. It works really well and I love how it blends everything seamlessly. Since it is double ended I do wish it has some kind of cap or cover for it. The brush is very soft and smooth. It has the perfect density for both the cream side and powder side for flawless application. As much as I love it, I think you can use what you have.
Bottom line love. It’s everything I want in a foundation and powder! Natural, fragrance free, buildable, slightly radiant, blurring and great color range. Highly recommend. Since I have 3 shades I can make work for me I’m pretty well stocked at the moment, but I will 100% be repurchasing once it’s used up.
Patrick Ta foundation and brush provided for review.
P.S. Thank you to all of you who have sent me messages about the hurricane. We are safe and staying put based on our zone and my in-laws are with us. Kitty and puppy send you all lots of kisses. We will most likely be experiencing power outages so I may not be able to respond over the next few days. Thank you for your heartfelt notes!
There’s a new palette from Tom Ford Beauty called the White Suede Eye and Cheek Palette ($150) which is quite the splurge available at Bloomingdale’s for their 150th Anniversary and also at Tom Ford. The colors looked beautiful and very wearable so I ordered it sight unseen.
The texture is similar to the Bitter Peach Eyeshadow Quad and Sheer Cheek Duo so I had high hopes the new palette would be just as amazing. Unfortunately this palette was a miss for me. I posted an Instagram Reel with the palette in action and a mini review for those curious.
Texture for the cheek colors and eyeshadows is very stiff just like the Sheer Cheek Duo, however the pigment was lacking and very difficult to layer.
The blush and highlighter shades actually performed well, the colors include a soft dusty rose and pale pink. The two on the skin just aren’t as exciting to me as some other shades. Definitely not unique enough to justify the steep price.
3 of the 4 eye shades applied very sheer. The color story is just beautiful but the pigment and color payoff were lacking. Shades include a matte pale pink bone, a copper rose shimmer, a soft rose brown tan and a deeper chocolate brown. The only shade that applied seamlessly was the copper rose color (which is SO beautiful).
If you watch my video you can see how much I have to dig the brush into the pans to pick up any color. On the arm colors swatched ok with a dense brush. The eye area is more delicate and mine can’t really handle the level of packing and layering required for the colors to show up. The shadows kind of drag on the skin.
In the look below I pulled some older favorites to play with:
Overall not worth the splurge and if I’m brutally honest this palette I don’t think it would be worth it even it were reasonably priced. Bottom line: save your money, splurge on something that performs well and doesn’t require lots of layering or extra work to make work.
I’ve still found some recent Tom Ford loves in the beauty lineup so I do think there’s lots to love from the line. This palette is just not one of them.
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If you’ve been curious about this palette (like I was) I hope you found this review helpful!
Today’s roundup is for all the girls asking for the best new long-wear lip formulas. I love that there are so many new formulas on the market for us to choose from. It’s nice to have options! I’m usually a glossy lip lover but I’ve been trying out more matte formulas, especially since the fall season is around the corner and mattes are nice to wear this time of year!
I put four new formulas to the test from Sephora. They always have the newest launches first and I love their Beauty Insider Program (you can sign up for free here). After playing around with some new formulas I am really surprised that the budge-proof lip DOES exist! Here’s what I tried and my thoughts on each formula.
The Huda Beauty Liquid Matte Ultra-Comfort Transfer-Proof Lipsticks ($21 each) are among the most popular for liquid lipsticks. I usually don’t opt for liquid lipsticks because they often look really dry and darken on my lips but there are a lot of really great colors in this line. I tried one from a sample I got as a Beauty Insider and was immediately hooked.
Sweet Talker is a muted pink and Perfectionist is a pretty cool rose pink. I really want to try more shades! The formula is a lightweight liquid. It dries to a comfortable matte finish and once it dries it stays put for hours. Lasting power is really good as long as your lips stay dry. It will transfer to a straw if you drink or if you eat, but other than that I’d give it an A+ for pigment and B+ for lasting power.
Urban Decay Vice Lip Bond Glossy Liquid Lip
The Urban Decay Vice Lip Bond Glossy Liquid Lipsticks ($25) are truly impressive. I love that they have a glossy finish versus the traditional matte look for a liquid lip. The lasting power is truly incredible. Transfer proof and budge proof but you need to let it dry/set. Since it’s ultra pigmented I’d say a little goes a long way. You only need a thin layer to cover the lip. My favorite is Text ‘Em for the perfect pink rose.
New NARS Powermatte Long-Lasting Lipstick
The NARS Powermatte Long-Lasting Lipsticks ($34) are also A+ lip material. They have a more matte almost airbrushed look compared to the Powermatte Lip Pigments. I picked two shades to try in Sweet Disposition (pale pink) and American Woman (dusty rose). They have a smooth weightless texture. A few swipes and your entire lip is covered and on me they did not transfer to my hand or a napkin!
Rouge Dior Forever Transfer-Proof Lipstick
I’ve saved the best (in my opinion) for last. The Dior Rouge Dior Forever Transfer-Proof Lipsticks ($42) are the best transfer-proof lipsticks I’ve tried. I picked 100 Forever Nude Look for my first shade to try and was beyond impressed. It lasted through a cheeseburger meal! The 100 Forever Nude Look pulls a little lighter/cooler than all the other Nude Look lipstick formulas. I found 500 Forever Sensual to be a bit closer in color (another great nude). I also love 200 Forever Nude Touch for a beige and 558 Forever Grace is a lovely berry.
Gucci launched new cheek products called the Luminous Matte Beauty Blush ($49 each). I hauled 5 of the 6 colors to try. These are beautiful soft blushes with a luminous sheen. At $49 each they are incredibly expensive but I’m happy to report that each one performed well and I think they’re exquisite!
Texture is soft and smooth. I like that the pigment is medium but easy to build and layer without looking or feeling heavy. They feel very natural on the skin and blend in seamlessly. Swatching on the arm/hand doesn’t do the product – they look so much prettier on the face!
The Luminous Matte Beauty Blushes are scented with a strong floral scent. It seems to fade after a few minutes (or it’s a scent my nose gets used to).
Lasting power is very good. The color stayed put on the cheeks all day. I think the packaging is really cute too!
01 Silky Rose is a light pink
02 Tender Apricot is a pale light peach
03 Radiant Pink is a healthy natural pink
04 Bright Coral is a soft coral
05 Rosy Beige is a mauve
Swatches of all five shades I hauled below:
Swatches on the face as well. For a more complete look I would have added some bronzer or highlighter for more depth and dimension but I just applied each blush by itself to give you an idea of what they look like alone.
I cannot pick a favorite, I think all the colors are really pretty! I think it would have made for a really stunning cheek palette if they had all shades in one compact.
It’s been a while since I did a dedicated Gucci Beauty review so in case you missed previous features, here are a few quick thoughts on some other items I’ve tried:
Gucci Natural Fluid Foundation in 280C – I love this formula for a traditional satin fluid foundation. It has medium to full coverage with a natural finish. It is long-wearing on me. Has a slight blurring effect.
Gucci Matte Beauty Powder Shade 05 – This is a nice pressed finishing powder with a natural finish. Has sheer coverage and looks very natural. Has a sweet floral scent.
Glow and Care Shine Lipstick – These are some of my favorite glossy lipsticks! Lots of nice colors to choose from! Sally Soft Honey is probably my favorite!
Multipurpose Hydrating and Nourishing Balm – One of my favorite multi-purpose balms! I love this on the lips for moisture. Wish it came in a stick or squeeze tube form, but the formula is excellent.
L’Obscur Lengthening Mascara – A nice lengthening and defining mascara I’ve repurchased several times. I think it’s worth splurging on!
Brume de Beaute Beauty Mist – This is a lovely bi-phase refreshing mist and can also double as a setting spray. Feels super luxurious and makes the skin feel refreshed.
Glossy Nail Polish – Love the shade Annabel Rose for a beautiful neutral. I have a couple other colors and really like the formula for an opaque finish, long-lasting wear and flattering shades.
Overall really happy with the formula and colors! If I had to pick just 2, I would say 03 Radiant Pink and 04 Bright Coral are my top 2. I still think they are overpriced (even if it is Gucci). But they perform really well and I’m happy with them.
As the ultimate Diptyque lover I could not resist picking up some of the new pieces from the Diptyque 34 Boulevard Saint-Germain Collection. This fall they’ve expanded their iconic scent 34 in a collection of new candle sizes and diffusers. The candles are cased in a beautiful off-white color. They’ve repackaged the room spray in a clear glass spritzer bottle to match the other scents.
The 34 Boulevard Saint-Germain scent is a green spicy floral. It’s a unique distinct scent with a mix of fresh green notes, moss, florals with a little bit of warm sharp spices swirled in. I’ve found it to be one of the strongest Diptyque scents I’ve tried with the most potent throw. It has a unique feel to it and if there’s one scent that sums up Diptyque I would say it’s definitely this one.
At this time they’ve seem to have discontinued this in the original 220 g form (rounded rectangular porcelain format) as it’s nowhere to be found online now.
I purchased 3 of the items from the collection including the 300g Candle ($115), 600g 3-wick Porcelain Candle ($220) and the Room Spray ($78). This scent is also available in the Hourglass Diffuser, Car Diffuser, Electric Wall Diffuser, Home Fragrance Diffuser and Scented Oval and Outdoor Candle Size.
Room Spray
I love room sprays as a nice home refresher. I’ve tried quite a few brands and the ones from Diptyque are very good. They have very good throw and strength. They linger for quite some time but of course will not last as long as a candle or diffuser. In our home we use Baies and Figuier the most. The 34 Boulevard Saint-Germain Room Spray is one we used to own in the original white packaging and it was one of Andrew’s favorites.
The 300 gram candles are larger than the standard ones which are 190 grams. The 34 Boulevard Saint-Germain variation comes in an off-white frosted glass jar. I think it’s a stunning one! This is the same size as their Color Scented Candles that come in the black, green, moss, amber and red jars. Since they are larger they do have a stronger throw than the standard ones. I’ve splurged on several before, I really love Amber during the fall-winter season for a nice alternative to pine or pumpkin scents. This one has about 75 hours of burn time.
34 Boulevard Saint-Germain 3-Wick Candle 600G
I also splurged on the 34 Boulevard Saint-Germain 3-wick Candle ($220) which has 90 hours of burn time. This is made of porcelain with 3 wicks and has even stronger throw! Andrew and I have owned this size in the Baies, Feu de Bois and Roses. These are quite the splurge but the larger ones with multiple wicks really do have better throw.
I thought I’d add a few other thoughts on the other formats in this collection:
The Scented Ovals are beautiful and have decent throw straight out of the box. However they fade as time goes by and to me they just aren’t worth the splurge. They do make for a beautiful decorative piece but the scent’s lasting power is pretty much existent after a month.
The Home Fragrance Reed Diffuser has very strong continuous throw. The glass base is very thick and sturdy and it’s beautiful! The pros are that it lasts long, has good throw and makes for a beautiful accent piece. Cons are the basically the nature of reed diffusers. They’re continuous so you can’t really turn off the scent. Also the reeds catch dust particles and since they soak up the oil/scent any debris in the air sticks to it. However this is the case with any reed diffuser. All you need to do is wipe them down occasionally.
The Hourglass Diffuser is one of my favorite purchases from the brand. I first bought this as a gift to a friend one year. She loved it so much I decided to them buy one for our home. I prefer the hourglass diffuser to the reed version. You activate the diffuser by turning it over. When the fragrance flows from one side to the other and scent is dispersed into the air over an hour.
I tried the Car Diffuser when it first launched in 2018 and I was completely disappointed. It didn’t last long, didn’t grip well and it was extremely expensive. I’m not sure if they’ve changed the design at all since then but I did not have luck with these (even though they look beautiful!).
That wraps up my recent Diptyque haul! While these are quite the splurge they were 100% worth it for me as I love the scent! It’s been quite a long time since I’ve been to Paris but I still have fond memories. If you’ve been following a long time you might remember this photo from Paris 2015.
Are you a fan of the 34 Boulevard Saint-Germain scent? If not what is your go-to scent for the home during this time of year?
